Mesker Park Zoo

Photos by ERIN MCCRACKEN / COURIER & PRESS The Wilkerson children (from left) Logan, 10, Katie, 5, Susi, 9, Kori, 6 and Kyler, 5, watch a giraffe eat it’s lunch as they visit Mesker Park Zoo and Botanic Gardens with their family on Wednesday. The Wilkerson’s from Owensboro, Ky., come to the zoo about once a year and decided to make this year’s trip during their spring break.

The ship known as the “monkey ship” to many Evansville residents, which was a popular exhibit remains at the zoo, however the ship no longer houses monkeys at Mesker Park Zoo and Botanic Gardens. The ship has remained due to the public popularity of the ship and the memories it provided many from the zoo they remember when they were children. The zoo now houses animals in exhibits that are as close to their natural habitats complete with plants that would be found where the animal would live in the wild.

Photos by ERIN MCCRACKEN / COURIER & PRESS A sign stands in old exhibits that are being remodeled with the help of donors at Mesker Park Zoo and Botanic Gardens on Wednesday. Amazonia is five years old and zoo officials are looking for more private support to help bring new experiences to the visitors of the zoo, to help keep the zoo an attractive place to visit.

Following the renovations of the 1956 Kley building, which has housed several of the zoo’s most popular animals like Bunny the Elephant and Donna the Hippo, a new exhibit with Komodo Dragons was unveiled in October 2013 at the Mesker Park Zoo and Botanic Gardens. Komodo Dragons are carnivorous reptiles that can grow up to 10 feet long and weigh over 300 pounds.

Max Hall, 9, of Owensboro watches an otter swim around him as he sits in the otter tunnel in the Children’s Enchanted Forrest at Mesker Park Zoo and Botanic Gardens. Hall was visiting the zoo with his family and friends while on spring break this week. The zoo is looking for a private funding through capital campaigning to help bring new experiences to the zoo such as a penguin exhibit and a carousel.

Ashby Walter, 5 (left), Jack Joyner, 6, (center) and Cali Walters, 3, (right) pretend to drive an old boat which was used to cruise around Lake Victoria as they look at the new Mesker Park Zoo and Botanic Gardens historical exhibit of the zoo in the Kley building. The exhibit chronicles many of the zoo’s most popular exhibits and animals over the years and gives a history of the growth of the city zoo.

Ashby Walter, 5 (left), Jack Joyner, 6, (center) and Cali Walters, 3, (right) look at the piranhas in Amazonia at Mesker Park Zoo and Botanic Gardens on Wednesday. The group of cousins, from Henderson, Ky., were enjoying part of their spring break by visiting the zoo and seeing some of the new exhibits open.

A Roseate Spoonbill hangs out on a branch in Amazonia at Mesker Park Zoo and Botanic Gardens. Amazonia has been open for five years and zoo officials are looking for more private funding to be able to continue to bring new experiences to the public and zoo visitors and continue to grow the city’s zoo.

Nick Weber, 5, (left), Everett Hardy, 3 (center), Alyssa Weber, 5, (center) Alexis Weber carrying Layla Hardy, 8 months, and Travis Hardy walk down the path from Amazonia past toward the renovation of the Prairie Dog exhibit at Mesker Park Zoo and Botanic Gardens on Wednesday. The cousins were enjoying a beautiful day at the zoo to take look at some of the new exhibits and enjoy a spring day.